Energy Efficiency and Resilience of Building and Renovating With Propane
“Propane is clean today and even cleaner tomorrow.”
Renewable propane provides a truly renewable energy source because it is made by converting plant and vegetable oils, waste greases, and animal fat into fuel. This not only circumvents disposal of waste grease and oil, but it also allows for a circular energy source.9 Renewable propane has the same great features as conventional propane—reliability, portability, power, and reduced carbon emissions—but with even lower carbon emissions when compared with other energy sources.
While the most common form of renewable propane today is a byproduct of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel produced from used cooking oil, more and more renewable propane is being generated from the seed oil of the camelina plant. Also known as camelina sativa or false flax, camelina is a member of the mustard family and a relative of cabbage, kale, and cauliflower. Camelina oil is a new source for renewable diesel and produces renewable propane with the lowest carbon intensity currently available. Critically, camelina is not a food crop, nor does it compete with food production. Camelina is a cover crop and is completely waste-free. The seed produces 40% oil (twice the amount yielded by soybean), the remaining meal is FDA approved for cow and chicken feed, and the husks are used for mulch. The camelina plant is beneficial for farmers because it enriches the soil and prevents erosion when fields are fallow and provides additional income without the need for new equipment.
Renewable propane delivers a high-energy conversion so that BTUs aren’t wasted, and it is price competitive. At the point of combustion, renewable propane is carbon neutral, meaning that no new carbon is added to the atmosphere when renewable propane is burned. Renewable propane has an ultra-low carbon intensity; as low as 19, or 7 with a meal credit. Under a meal credit, the seed oil is used for fuel and the remaining plant fiber is used for feedstock. By comparison, the average carbon intensity score for electricity in the U.S. is 130. Because renewable propane’s chemical structure and physical properties are the same as conventional propane, renewable propane can be used for all the same applications without needing any system or equipment changes.
U.S. fuel processors are making renewable propane today, and the push for cleaner liquid fuels such as sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel fuel, will lead to a sharp increase in renewable propane production.
SUMMARY
Choosing propane for a residential project secures forward-thinking environmental benefits, including reduced greenhouse gas and NOx emissions, as well as lowered energy costs. The energy density of propane allows home equipment and appliances to perform more efficiently. Since propane is designed to be safely delivered and stored on site, it offers energy security. The security, efficiency, and environmental profile of propane provide it with unique advantages when compared against other energy sources, like electricity or heating oil. With its flexibility, propane provides a good match for renovation projects seeking greater efficiency. Propane is ultimately an adaptable and high-performance energy source for any home’s portfolio, capable of contributing to net zero energy homes and environmental qualifications, including LEED for Homes (LEED H v4) and the 2015 National Green Building Standard (NGBS).
Getting to Know Propane
Figure courtesy of Propane Education & Research Council
Propane and renewable propane reduce carbon emissions while reliably meeting energy needs in homes.
An energy source that can achieve high performance targets, meet the most demanding environmental standards, and supply power to a broad array of home equipment and appliances, is certainly an asset worth considering for any home’s portfolio.
Propane is an ideal energy source for heating, water heating, cooking, clothes drying, fireplaces, power generation, and more. Propane is not mined like battery materials or extracted like oil. It is primarily manufactured from natural gas as a by-product of methane purification. Propane’s low carbon intensity has earned it recognition as an approved clean alternative fuel under the Clean Air Act of 1990.
Realizing decarbonization in homes will require more clean energy options. The DOE classifies propane as a clean alternative fuel. Propane is methane-free, as opposed to natural gas. Over a 20-year period, one ton of methane has a global warming potential that is 84 to 87 times more than CO2>alone.4 Because it vaporizes when exposed to air, propane does not harm soil and has negligible effects on the ozone. Similarly, propane poses no hazard to drinking water or marine ecosystems. Propane only ignites when in the presence of a specific air mixture and an ignition source above 920 degrees Fahrenheit, making it safer than other fuels. Using propane also prevents deforestation by replacing solid fuels such as wood and coal.
Propane makes ultra-efficient Combined Heat and Power (CHP) technology possible. CHP refers to on-site generation capable of providing reliable electricity. Unlike centralized electrical generation plants that operate at only 33% efficiency, CHP systems capture heat and achieve total system efficiencies of 60-80% for producing electricity and useful thermal energy. Some systems can achieve efficiencies approaching 90%.5,6 Almost no energy is lost as it travels from tank to application. The DOE Energy Star program gives propane a source site ratio of 1.01, compared to 3.03 for electricity from the grid. This means it takes 3.03 units of electricity to produce and deliver one unit of energy to a home, compared to only 1.01 for propane.
The flexible form factor of propane storage makes it easy to install in virtually any environment without disrupting sensitive habitats. A 500-gallon tank can hold enough propane to meet the annual energy needs of an average single-family home. A typical propane tank has a useful lifespan of between 30 and 40 years, is made from 85% recycled steel, and is 100% recyclable after service. The brass fittings used in the tank are made from a high percentage of recycled brass and are 100% recyclable.
With propane, residential clients can have the efficiency and comfort of gas appliances when natural gas is not available. Propane is independent of the electric grid, making it a valuable partner energy source for homes.
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